Oxford House
Brisbane
Sunday 8.30 am
[11 July 1943]
I haven’t had malaria! – now aint that a surprise to us all!
I’m leasing a monk like existence – Friday night after finding my kitbag I went to the pictures & saw “The Moon & Sixpence”. It wasn’t much chop. Saturday morning after returning from the hospital which was out along the road to that trailer camp we parked at five years ago I went with the boys to a pub and amazingly managed to get about six beers down before the drought set in.
Met another correspondent who had my phone number and a note from me in my own writing in his note book. Neither he nor I have the faintest idea what it was about. We had met him at the Royal Standard last year. A civilian turned up who knew him – we were introduced & he said ‘not Bill Pidgeon?”. “But yes” I say. “Married a girl from the P.D.S.” “U-huh” = me. “Well” sez he “I’m Roy West, you and Jess had a drink with Jean Smith & I at the Great Southern just before we got married.” What a teeny-weeny little world! He and Jean have amicably parted.
Left him and went round to the Gresham hotel for dinner, in the midst of which a croaking voice hails me from behind & none other than dear old debtor Francis Clancy beams upon my shaken face. “Christ, can’t I ever get away from you” I ask. However he was sober and didn’t worry me. Said he would ring this morning – but I won’t be here. Am going down to have a look at what the boys call the press circus, i.e. G.H.Q. conference & handout.
I rang Eager but couldn’t contact him – he is away at his stud farm doesn’t return until tonight.
The food in this joint is very good. The Yanks see to it that their bellies are well looked after. According to the local correspondents they look after their John Thomases too with loving care & affection – see to it that they are never starved.
Went to bed at 8.30 pm last night. Am getting sick of walking round the blocks!
Tell King I have met a lot of the boys.
Hugh Dash – Brammal
Lloyd Clarke – Hutton
Jack Brairs (?) – Peterson
Mishael – Fitzhenry
Brisbane full of correspondents. English Australian American. I haven’t met Williams yet.